Organisation information
Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) was established by an intergovernmental agreement between the Irish and British Governments, signed on 27 April 1999, and by legislation enacted in the two jurisdictions.
The Department of Justice, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Office, provides financial support for the Commission.
The Commission is responsible for facilitating the location of the remains of victims of paramilitary violence who were secretly murdered and buried arising from the conflict in Northern Ireland.
To reach out more effectively to the community the Commission has put in place a confidential free-phone service and post office box address through which information can be passed to it. Any such information will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not be used for any purpose other than locating the remains of victims.
The Commission is deeply committed to alleviating the suffering of the bereaved families but needs further crucial information to do so. The Commission appeals to anyone with such information to pass it on immediately. For confidential contact details and a confidential free-phone number see below.
The Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) maintain a close relationship of co-operation in respect of all aspects of policing. The quality and extent of this co-operation are at the highest ever level and the Garda Commissioner and the PSNI Chief Constable frequently reference the importance of this co-operation to their services.
There is a particular focus on operational security co-operation in response to the ongoing threat posed by paramilitary groups. There is also close co-operation in respect of the broader range of policing responsibilities, notably in combating organised crime, ensuring road safety and in resource and capacity-sharing.
As part of the process of enhancing this relationship, the two forces launched a joint Cross Border Policing Strategy in 2010.
The purpose of the Strategy is to improve public safety throughout Ireland, and to disrupt criminal activity and enhance the policing capability of both police services on the island of Ireland. The Strategy covers the full range of policing activities and contains a series of initiatives in which both police services are actively engaged.
The Intergovernmental Agreement on Police Co-operation (April 2002) provides a framework for the implementation of certain Patten Commission recommendations on enhanced police co-operation and measures taken under the Agreement include exchanges of personnel, secondments and the transfer of officers.
Each year a joint Cross Border Organised Crime Seminar is held which brings together law enforcement officers from each jurisdiction including the police and custom services and other agencies dealing with organised crime. The seminar is organised jointly by the two justice departments and the two police services.
For further information see: